Questions and Answers
What is a variable?
What is the difference between a measured variable and a manipulated variable?
A measured variable records an observation or value, while a manipulated variable involves controlling the levels of the variable.
What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?
The independent variable is changed, and the dependent variable's value depends on the independent variable.
What is the difference between a conceptual definition and an operational definition?
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Distinguish between the three claims research can make.
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What are the four types of association claims?
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Which validity assesses how well the variables in the study are measured?
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Which validity is evaluated by asking how the researchers obtained their sample for a survey?
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What is the most common trade-off made in experiments between validities?
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Study Notes
Understanding Variables
- A variable is an element that can change and must have at least two distinct values or levels.
- Measured Variable: Involves observing and recording data on a specific aspect.
- Manipulated Variable: Involves controlling or assigning different levels of a variable to participants in an experiment.
Independent vs Dependent Variables
- Independent Variable (IV): The variable that is adjusted or changed by the researcher.
- Dependent Variable (DV): The variable that is influenced or measured based on changes in the IV.
Definitions of Concepts
- Conceptual Definition: Refers to abstract concepts like "depression" or "debt stress."
- Operational Definition: Specifies how a concept will be measured or manipulated in research.
Types of Research Claims
- Frequency Claims: Focus on describing the rate or level of a single variable.
- Causal Claims: State that one factor causes changes in another factor.
- Association Claims: Suggest that a relationship exists between levels of two different variables.
Types of Association Claims
- Positive Correlation: Both variables increase together.
- Negative Correlation: One variable increases while the other decreases.
- Zero Correlation: No statistical relationship between variables.
- Curvilinear Relationship: Patterns of one variable change as the other variable increases.
Validity in Research
- Construct Validity: Evaluates how effectively variables are measured or manipulated.
- External Validity: Assesses the extent to which results can be generalized beyond the sample.
- Statistical Validity: Analyzes the risk of errors in conclusions about effects between variables.
- Internal Validity: Focuses on whether a causal relationship can be established without interference from other variables.
Validity Interrogation Examples
- Construct Validity Inquiry: Questions regarding how well sensitivity to tastes is measured.
- External Validity Inquiry: Questions pertaining to the sampling method used in a survey.
Validity Trade-offs
- In research, it's often challenging to maximize all four types of validity simultaneously, with a common trade-off occurring between statistical validity and internal validity.
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Description
Test your knowledge on key concepts from Chapter 3 of your psychology textbook with these flashcards. Understand the differences between measured and manipulated variables, as well as the definition of a variable. Perfect for exam preparation or review.
